A 14-Month Wine Country Destination Wedding Checklist
January 2026 — 7 min read
Planning from a distance works beautifully when the sequence is right. Here is ours.
Months 14 to 11
Foundations. Do these before anything visual.
- Set total budget and guest count together — they are one decision
- Hire a planner who knows the region's permits
- Tour venues over one concentrated trip
- Sign venue, photographer and caterer
Months 10 to 6
Design and infrastructure.
- Creative direction and full design presentation
- Hotel room blocks and shuttle contracts
- Save the dates and wedding website
- Tasting, rentals, floral and lighting design
Months 5 to 1
Detail and delivery.
- Invitations out at 10 to 12 weeks for destination guests
- Floor plans, production drawings and permits finalised
- Final guest count and seating at three weeks
- Run of show distributed to all vendors at two weeks
The week of
Rest, rehearse, hand everything over, and be a guest at your own weekend.
Oasis Weddings & Events plans and designs weddings across Sonoma and Napa Valley. If you are dreaming of a wine country celebration, we would love to hear your story.
Frequently asked
- How far in advance should we plan a destination wedding?
- Twelve to eighteen months is ideal for wine country, mainly because peak-season Saturdays at the best venues book that far ahead.
